Six-year-old Kiersten Gilbert of Clinton presents a gift from Santa to Alice Taylor, left, and Ronda Glaspy, right, of the Birthing Center at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare. Kiersten asked Santa for money to help the mothers of babies, and her gift will be used to purchase a specially made car seat.

How about a feel good story about a little girl with a big heart. For most children, toys top the list of gifts from Santa.

For one 6-year-old from Clinton, however, the most wished-for item on her Christmas list wasn’t a toy at all. In fact, it wasn’t even for her.

This year, Kiersten Gilbert of Clinton asked Santa for money to give to Golden Valley Memorial Hospital to help the mothers of babies. Santa came through with $100, and then a relative added a little more. Kiersten had her wish.

Unknown to her, the staff at the GVMH Birthing Center were about to have a wish granted, too. Ronda Glaspy, director of the Birthing Center, said that GVMH’s new pediatrician, Dr. Aften Anderson, recently asked the staff to test premature babies as they sat in a regular car seat to make sure the level of oxygen in their blood remained above a certain point. If not, the parents would need to use a different type of car seat until their babies grew stronger.

The cost of that particular car seat is $100.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this car seat at no cost to parents,” Glaspy said. “And we are impressed that a little girl would do something so nice for a person she doesn’t even know.”

Kiersten is a first-grade student at Henry Elementary. She is the daughter of GVMH radiologist Dr. Michael Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer. Kiersten also has an older sister and a younger brother and said she just wanted to help someone else.

Kiersten visited GVMH to present her gift from Santa and enjoyed seeing photographs of the Birthing Center and nursery and taking a peek at a baby through the door.

Although the car seat will not be able to be returned to the hospital once it goes home with a family, Glaspy said the staff would find other resources to meet future need.

“We will have one available for first baby who needs it,” she said, noting the seat could be replaced as necessary.

Kiersten’s gift was made to the GVMH Foundation, nonprofit organization that supports the work of the hospital. Anyone who would like to join Kiersten in helping the parent of new babies can contact the Foundation office at 660-890-7108 or email foundation@gvmh.org. Gifts are tax-deductible.

Kiersten Gilbert and her father, Dr. Mike Gilbert, peek at a newborn baby through the door to the GVMH Birthing Center. Kiersten gave money she received this year from Santa to the hospital.

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About Craig Thompson

I am a young professional with two great sons, and I work in the healthcare setting. I am employed in hospital administration and serve as Chief Operating Officer at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Missouri.
These are challenging and exciting times in healthcare and my blog will focus on healthcare, raising boys or being raised by boys, and living in mid America.